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TThe village of Aberdeen lies within sight of the Camdeboo Mountains, 50km south of Graaff-Reinet in the Great Karoo.
This small Eastern Cape settlement has become synonymous with preserved Victorian architecture, wide streets and a relaxed pace of life.
It has become a haven for artists, ‘down-sizers’ and a generally lively creative group. And it also has delightful eccentricities …
Take the Dutch Reformed Church steeple, for instance. It’s said to be the tallest in South Africa. However, photographers shooting images of the church from a distance can easily spot the skewness of the high steeple – about 4,5cm off-beam at the top.
Then there’s a very ornate post office, complete with Eastern tiling and a brace of gargoyles glaring out over the rooftops.
Legend has it that this building was supposed to have been the magistrate’s court of Grahamstown. How it suddenly ended up in Aberdeen is anyone’s guess. By the time the mistake was discovered, it was well on its way to completion.
Back in the day Frank Wilke Jnr established what was then South Africa’s largest privately-owned zoo in the town.
Bridal couples would pose with the resident lions for daring photographs. A thick pane of plate glass separated the lovebirds from the carnivores – but you couldn’t spot that in a carefully taken photograph.
Aberdeen’s history is rich. It was near here, in 1675, when Ensign Schrijver took delivery of a herd of cattle from the local Inqua Khoisan people.
And a wounded British soldier who was nursed back to health in Aberdeen during the Second South African War (also known as Anglo-Boer War) later went on to serve with Captain Robert Scott in the South Pole expedition of 1910.
He was Captain Lawrence Edward Oates, famous for giving up his life because his ill health was a threat to the survival of his colleagues by leaving the tent in a blizzard with the words: 'I am just going outside and may be some time.'
Did You Know?
Travel tips & planning info
Who to contact
Aberdeen Publicity Association
Tel: +27 (0) 49 846 0067 or (0)76 885 6559
Email: aberdeeninfo1@gmail.com
How to get here
Aberdeen lies 55km south of Graaff-Reinet on the N9, and about 250km north of the coastal town of George – also on the N9.
Best time to visit
Any time of the year is good, but bear in mind the Karoo has its weather extremes in both summer (November to February) and winter (June to August).
Things to do
You can make easy trips to Graaff-Reinet to the north and Willowmore to the south.
Visit the Valley of Desolation or take a drive into the Baviaanskloof Wilderness.
What to pack
Sturdy walking gear and warm clothes for the evenings.
What to eat
You're in lamb-chop country, where chicken is often mistaken for a vegetable. There are, however, always vegetarian options available.
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